The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-21
Her Simple Story.

was young woman, the wife of one
oi the stOry-lellers. She did not ap.
pear happy. Her face was very
solemn, and black eyes sparkled be.
heath her troubled brow and cast
angry glances 10 the direction of the
merry trio. Finally she rose from
her seat with a determined look or
Der lace, approached the group of
siory-tellers, and somewhat pettishly
Inquired:
"lIenry. what are you doing
heres"
Telling stories, my dear-inno-
eent stories, you know"
"N'hy have you not invited me to
ioY you, instead Of letting me sit
bak there alone"'
"Secause didn't know you liked
storss, my dear, Women never do.
Besies, 1t is the rule that every man
in a rowd must tell a story. You
cOuldft do that, you know"
"Cotdn't |, though ?"
Catching the drift Of TIE lady's re-
marks, he other members of the trio
at once Insisted that she take the
vacant sat and initiate herself as
one.of thm by telling a story. The
lonely woman sat down and prepar-
ed to pay her way with an anecdOte.
"I dOn'tknow what kind of stories
men are inthe habit of telling when
they get I'll in corner by them
selves" sp began "blt from the
fact that thy neglect their wives in
order to beilone, l judge they must
bee queer sOries, not dignified ones
for middle ,ged men to relate. and
not overwhelmed with the truth. If,
IN my Ignorance, | tell common
place story, and truthful one as
well, you mast forgive the fault and
attribute it b my inexperience."
As she gaze her companions these
rather seve'e but not altogether un.
merited rsps they looked at each
aihCr cut 4 the corners of their eyes
and woult have spoken in self-de.
'emce had ihe not Immediately begun
her anecdete.
"~1me years ago" she said "be-
lore Z was married, most laughable
inr.dent occurred at our house in
CEDAR Rapids. Iowa. My little sis
ier. then three years of age, was an
exceedingly lively chIld, She ran
aiiuvor the place, aud found it i'm.
ras-ible 90 at still IA minute except
Hlen she was a-leep-one of these
Irresponsible, uncomfortable little
Jump ab0uts. Next door to our house
ua- a church, and the parsonage was
aso close by. The minister used to
make a good deal Of little Genevieve,
sad she thought him one of her best
ffieuds. II was an everyday trick
ar her 10 steal out of the house and
ran over 10 the parsonage or the
study la the rear of the church to
see her indulgent and fond faYorite,
the pastor.
One Sunday-and mind you this is
a true story am telling you-morn.
ing services were in progress at the
church, and little Genevieve was at
home with me. Carrying out moth
er's instructions, | took my little sis
ter into the bathroom and prepared
her for her bath. 1t was a warm
summer morning, and through the
open windows of the church came
the words of the good man, eloquent
and not too lOw-voiced in the de.
livery Of his sermon. l happened to
step out of the bathroom a few mo-
ments to find some towels or some
thing, and on my return little Gene
We've was not there. | hurriedly
looked into the other rooms of the
house, and then, fearing the worst
rushed out the front door, along the
sidewalk, and up the steps leading tC
the church Yestibule. | arrived there
Just In time to see that little thing
dying up the aisle OF the church to.
wards the pulpit as fast as her short
legs could carry her, and as naked as
when she was born. | did not dare
Follow her, and almost tainted with
excitement. and probably would
have done so had | not found relief
for my agitation in "A burst of weep
ing.
AS | afterward learned, the con-
gregatiOn was so much astounded
that no one tried to stop Genevieve,
aud she ran TO the altar rail, holding
out her hands to the minister whom
she loved so well. There the good
man met her, took her to his breast
aud carried her down the aisle to the
ve~tibule, saying as he went:
MAY the Lord bless this little an
gel aud keep her heart always as in
nocent and pure as 1t Is this moment.
As Jesus said, suffer little children
% come unto me, for of such cherubs